Hello to everybody,

I was just was reading about the arterial TOS. I was diagnosed arterial TOS with a stenosis of 60 percent when the arms are elevated.

I always read/hear that you should have an operation with the arterial TOS. Do they mean ALL arterial TOS or only those patients whose arteria is also compressed with their arms down?

What symptoms do those of you have with arterial TOS?

Thank you so much for your answers. I am quite worried now.

This PDF link that mspennyloafer added to our useful sticky thread might help clarify/explain some if it for you. I think one of the other posts there had another link about if your have compression w/arm/shoulders down vs compression w/arm/shoulders up... I'll look for it. I though it was on this pdf unless I missed it when skimming for it.

http://www.coloradohandtherapy.net/files/43426966.pdf

ahh here is the one I was looking for -
http://www.watainc.org/uploads/pdfs/...to-loehrke.pdf

I can't thank you enough for the 2nd PDF (porretto-loehrke.pdf). Despite having read quite a bit about TOS, I had not previously read about "release phenomenom" or the "Cyriax test".

The notes about the brachial plexus is being pulled down exactly match how my symptomatic side "droops" down and how swinging my arm while walking aggravated my condition. I have some of the compression phenom as well, but the release phenom is much worse.

I discovered the "Cyriax test" on my own and actually do this throughout the day to control my arm symptoms.

Thank you so much for looking. All the testing and evaluating was so interesting.

I am convinced now that Germany is a developping country as to TOS. I really doubt that a single doctor or PT would ever do such an extensive testing. I feel sorry for us Germans with TOS.

Yet - maybe not being capable of reading properly - I haven't found the arterial compression with arms up/down. I guess I have to reread it.

Dear fellow-sufferers ,

maybe a bit off-topic, but I am so happy. After writing a lot of e-mails, a professor in Heidelberg (it's quite famous) will conduct a mr-neurography of the plexus brachialis.

I really set all of my hope in that examination. Maybe now they can exactly diagnose the place and kind of compression. One doctor also said it might be a Neuroforaminal Stenosis. We'll see.

Congratulations! Let us know how it goes.

of course.

You are all so nice and helpful.....

Hello from sunny Germany ,

well, finally the test results from Heidelberg are here. On the one hand good, on the other not. Fortunately they did not find any damage on the nerves or any edemata. Also no neuroforaminal stenosis could be seen. It was nice to hear that but.....I still have cramps and for some weeks now a nerve pain starting from behind the head, going under the ear and ending under the chin is a new pain pattern.

Today I went to a chiropractor, my last hope now. Until now everybody has told me that my first ribs were fine but I have a feeling that they are not. The doctor made a few - for me intimidating - maneuvers and the unpleasant sounds of the joints confirmed what I had thought. He said that both ribs were blocked. The rest of my spine also made these sounds. I'll have a second meeting on Friday. The joints feel freed but my nerve is aching.

He also gave me an oil made of natural things like lavender and campher and a few more things for the extremely tight muscles. I also have to do some stretching, but nothing with the head.

Well, that's all for now. I'll tell you about the results.

Hope you are fine

Is your chiropractor also doing upper cervical adjusting?
Also called Atlas/axis or c1 c2 adjustments.
It might be of interest to read about.

This link/website explains it nicely -
http://www.upcspine.com/self.htm

That 2nd pdf you posted is very helpful, Most therpaists dont consider the scapula at all when dealing with TOS they just look at the neck. My shoulders feel really instable, and my scap clicks and pops with nearly every movement a few people have told me its because im to tight back there? Does that make sense?